Location: Shanghai, China

Start-up time: Oct., 2014

Background:

There were two trains of CCR to produce aromatic hydrocarbon in Sinopec (Shanghai Branch), which were ready for revamping in order to increase capacity. SEI was responsible for this project, which contained three new columns, de-C7 column (3800mm ID), xylene column (3200/3600mm ID) and heavy aromatics column (2600mm ID). Tray efficiency was evaluated and process simulation was performed by SEI. ZEHUA was responsible for internals design.

Solution:

Tray spacing was 600mm for De-C7 column, which consisted of 2-pass, 60 ADV® valve trays. The feed flowed onto the trays #40. Tray spacing was 500mm for xylene column, which consisted of 2-pass, 110 ADV® valve trays. The feed flowed onto the trays #42. Tray spacing was 600mm for heavy aromatics column, which consisted of 1-pass, 40 ADV® valve tray. The feed flowed onto the tray #10.

Result:

The unit was successfully run in Oct, 2014. Currently, capacity was up to 70% of design capacity due to lack of feed. Yield of C8A was more than 97.5wt% and content of toluene was less than 30ppm (wt) for bottom product in de-C7 column. Yield of C8A was more than 95wt% and content of C8A was more than 98.6wt% for top product in xylene column. Yield of C10A was more than 80wt% for top product and yield of C11A for bottom product was more than 99wt% in heavy aromatics column.